Monthly Archives March 2016

When small businesses succeed, entire communities benefit. From the small locally-owned coffee shop on the corner, to the growing marketing agency down the street, every successful business brings employment opportunities, revenue and the community-minded spirit Sacramento is known for. This is why Smith, McDowell & Powell is proud to sponsor the Downtown Sacramento Foundation’s Calling All Dreamers Competition for the second year in a row. This competition opens doors for local businesses that are eager to succeed by offering the grand-prize winner a start-up package worth approximately $100,000.00. Entries are being accepted until March 29th, to learn more about the contest and previous year’s semi-finalists and winners, click here. As always, the attorneys at SMP are available to answer any questions regarding establishing your small business and helping you realize your own dreams, however big they may be!

Spring Break is just around the corner, and many travelers are taking advantage of online booking sites such as Airbnb and VRBO, which allow homeowners to lease their properties or individual rooms to guests for short-term stays. With the increase of popularity of these home-sharing vacation sites, cities have begun to address concerns by implementing new regulations.

In January, Sacramento City Council unanimously approved two ordinances regarding short-term rental services wherein property owners wishing to rent their homes or portions of their homes no longer need to apply for a Conditional Use Permit (which costs approximately $5,000.00). Instead, they need only pay for a Business Operations Tax Certificate and Transient Occupancy Tax which is 12% of the regular room charge. Also included in the ordinance, was a cap on the number of guests and duration of stays; six guests at a time and no more than 90 days of rentals annually. All homeowners participating in these short-term rental services must keep a log of their guests and refer to their homeowners association for any further issues that may arise.

As always, the attorneys at Smith, McDowell & Powell are well-versed on real estate and property issues, so if you are looking to use your home as a place for tourists to crash for spring break, we are here to answer any questions you may have! For further reading on the city council’s decision, click here.